Hunter
08/16/21
An Oxford man who allegedly left the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics last month despite a court order holding him there was arrested Sunday after an alleged assault in downtown Iowa City.
According to police, 41-year-old Thomas Paintin of Summit Street was riding his bicycle in the area of Pancheros on South Clinton Street. A man was sitting at a picnic table when Paintin allegedly rode by and struck the man with a stick. Paintin was located on Burlington Street just east of Clinton Street . He turned into a dead end then stepped out to speak with officers.
Paintin reportedly provided a fake last name at first and denied being involved in the incident, but then admitted being a part of it. He allegedly told officers that he was trapped and defended himself. The weapon in question, a wooden reed, was still in Paintin’s hand. The victim was bleeding from the assault.
Paintin was wanted from an incident on July 13th. He was at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics on a court hold order and attempted to leave the facility just before 6am that day. He was told to stop by a peace officer on scene but took off running. He attempted to punch the officer, who hugged Paintin in order to perform a takedown. Paintin allegedly grabbed the officer’s neck, spun into the takedown and pushed the officer’s head into the ground as they landed. The officer stated that he felt a pop in his neck and saw stars as a result. He had to be put into a neck brace and was put into a wheelchair to be taken back into the hospital for treatment.
A warrant was issued for Paintin’s arrest the same day.
He now faces Assault while displaying a Dangerous Weapon for Sunday’s incident, and Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations with Intent to Injure for the July incident. If convicted on both counts, Paintin faces up to seven years in prison.